Pepco and union negotiate, won’t share details

WASHINGTON – Pepco met Friday with the union that represents 1,150 unionized workers, which includes line mechanics, underground cable splicers and substation technicians.

The two sides have been negotiating since April. So how did the negotiations today go? WTOP can’t tell you.

Pepco said in a statement that both sides met with a federal mediator and agreed to a news blackout.

Jim Griffin, president and CEO of IBEW Local 1900, told WTOP earlier this week the sticking points are over health care and proposals to switch up to 20 percent of call center staffers from full-time to part-time employees.

The last time Pepco workers went on strike was in 1985. The strike lasted four days, according to Griffin.

Pepco spokeswoman Myra Oppel told WTOP on Thursday that the electric service provider is prepared should the workers go on strike.

“We have employees that have been training for months to assume these positions, so we’re confident that they are ready to do that if necessary,” Oppel told WTOP.